UK and US under fire over Iraq radiation

Britain and America showed "callous disregard" by failing to take action over high levels of radiation found at villages near a looted Iraqi nuclear site, a British campaigner said today.

Dozens of people near the Tuwaitha facility, south of Baghdad, are reported to have suffered nosebleeds, rashes and other symptoms of radiation poisoning.

Iraqi troops guarding the site fled at the start of the war, leaving looters free to steal uranium storage barrels, which locals later used as drinking water containers.

Mike Townsley, head of a Greenpeace team working in the area, warned that not enough was being done to discover the extent of the problem.

Call for survey of area

He called for UN nuclear experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency to be brought in to carry out a full survey of the area.

One radiation source discovered by the environmental group measured 10,000 times above normal readings.

Campaigners revealed that they returned one abandoned yellow cake canister containing mined uranium, which had been left open for 20 days, to the US military themselves.

The Tuwaitha facility, 12 miles south of Baghdad, is believed to have contained hundreds of tons of natural uranium and nearly two tons of low-enriched uranium, which could be used to make nuclear weapons.

The first cases of suspected radiation sickness came to light as early as April 16, according to doctors.

30-40 victims per day

Dr Bassim Abbud at Mada'in General Hospital, which is nine miles from the site, said: "Some 30 to 40 patients suffering from bloody diarrhoea visit our hospital every day, probably due to their exposure to nuclear radiation."

He added: "Some people were subjected to radiation after emptying the barrels.

"We have no particular measures to take. We just diagnose them and send them to Baghdad hospitals."

After the Iraqi soldiers fled, US troops did not secure the site until April 7, according to the Associated Press.

An IAEA team visited earlier this month to check any damage by looters, finding most of the uranium was still on or near the site.

The team - restricted by the US-led interim administration - was not allowed to give medical exams to Iraqis reported to have fallen ill, diplomats told AP.